AIN'T IT A GRAND AND GLORIOUS FEELING: CELEBRATING THE PRINCESS MUSICALS

The seven Princess Musicals were written and produced between 1915 and 1918 specifically for the Princess Theater in New York City.  The Princess was a small theatre, requiring simpler, more intimate shows than were common during this "Ziegfeld" era.  Not only were the Princess Musicals written specifically for a smaller space, with believable stories that would resonate with the public, the shows were also designed to keep production costs low.  They became a turning point in the evolution of musical theatre, not only because of their structure, but also because the music and lyrics were largely written by Jerome Kern and P.G. Wodehouse.  There was much more to the Princess Musicals, however, than low-budget shows in a small setting.  The stories were simple and real. They were comedies, but the humor came from real-world situations.  Because they couldn't afford big stars or high production values, the shows relied on good story-telling and great music.  This original musical, featuring the music of Jerome Kern and his Princess Musicals collaborators, tells a story in much the same style, but with a modern twist. The songs may not exactly fit the sensibilities of today's young men and women, but the sentiments are timeless.   Surprisingly, we find that the age-old story of romance, love, and marriage hasn’t changed much in 100 years!